Te Rangimoaho’s 21st Celebration in Rarotonga

Te Rangimoaho Peyroux – Ngāi Tūhoe me ngā Kuki Airani. Ko Rarotonga mē Mangaia ōku Moutere.

Not many can say they’re Rarotongan, let alone that they turned 21 in the Cook Islands. If it wasn’t for the help of Bon Voyage—specifically Tonia Timmins—we wouldn’t have made it back to the “motherland” to celebrate this milestone of mine.

The past 7–8 months of planning this with Tonia was such a pleasure. She is straightforward, easy-going, and incredibly helpful when it comes to a “small-town kid’s” knowledge—always patient when I was constantly asking, “Wait, what does that mean?” or “Umm, I don’t know, whatever is easiest.” Because she took care of the heavy lifting, I was able to just show up and live my life.

If you look through the photos I’ve shared, you can see exactly what that looks like: total freedom. From the laughter at the BBQ with over 50 of my whānau to those quiet, reflective moments soaking up the island sun, I didn’t have to worry about a single booking or itinerary detail. I was fully present, soaking up every second.

This was our first true whānau vacation (minus the ones who were unfortunately unable to make it), and it reminded me how vital it is to step away from the daily grind to reconnect with your roots. Rarotonga is my motherland, and it is always a privilege to return, to learn more about the land, and to deepen my understanding of the whakapapa of how I hono (connect) there.